City of Hope Outpatient Center Fountain

Twenty-one miles northeast of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley lies the main campus for City of Hope, a private, non-profit clinical research center, hospital, and graduate school. The outpatient center resides on 110 acres of land adjacent to the boundaries of Duarte and Irwindale, with a network of clinical practice locations throughout Southern California, satellite offices in Monrovia and Irwindale, and regional fundraising offices throughout the United States.

The only element missing at the campus was a central gathering place where patients, their families, visitors, and medical personnel could relax, unwind, and de-stress. OTL was called in to construct an outdoor water feature at the center’s Hope Plaza to serve that purpose and place the crowning touch on this iconic healthcare facility.

Idea

Because the build took place during one of the rainiest Southern California winters on record and while the hospital campus itself was undergoing construction, OTL was forced to overcome a variety of logistical challenges. Nevertheless, our team of artisans, engineers, and craftsmen worked diligently with project architect CO Architects, landscape architect MIG, and general contractor DPR Construction to create a fountain designed by JOMA Design Studio that was worthy of this center for healing.

The fountain features a 60-foot inverted radius wall with basalt finishes and white water that spills into the basin at 1,500 gallons per minute, run by 15 submersible pumps each emptying 100 gallons per minute. Twenty-two custom niche lights and LED lights were installed to illuminate the water wall, producing a dramatic yet soothing effect.

The City of Hope campus was occupied and operational at the time of construction, creating additional challenges in scheduling to ensure as little disruption as possible for everyone on site.

As with all our fountain projects, the OTL team coordinated with the architects to ensure the water would not splash into the surrounding environment and that water flowed evenly across the top of the fountain. We also were able to adjust course during the construction phase as needed to build a project that aligned with its original drawings and exceeded the owner’s expectations.

Impact

The team installed an inspirational water feature designed to harness the site’s views of nature and represent the compassionate, patient-centered environment for which City of Hope is known.

The medical center now has a breathtaking focal point that produces delightful sounds and sensations for visitors from near and far to enjoy for many years to come.